Is Wrongful Conviction a Life Sentence?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impact of wrongful convictions, particularly emphasizing the role of DNA technology in preventing such injustices. Participants express concern over the reliability of DNA evidence, citing issues like improper sample handling. The Innocence Project is highlighted as a crucial resource for addressing wrongful convictions, with specific mention of Cornelius Dupree, who was exonerated after 30 years due to DNA evidence. The conversation underscores the need for accountability among prosecutors and the importance of direct links to credible resources.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of DNA evidence and its implications in criminal justice
  • Familiarity with the Innocence Project and its role in exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals
  • Knowledge of the challenges associated with sample handling in forensic science
  • Awareness of the psychological and societal impacts of wrongful convictions
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Innocence Project's methodologies for addressing wrongful convictions
  • Explore advancements in DNA technology and its application in criminal cases
  • Investigate the legal standards for evidence admissibility in court
  • Examine case studies of wrongful convictions and the factors leading to them
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for legal professionals, forensic scientists, criminal justice students, and advocates for criminal justice reform who are interested in understanding the complexities of wrongful convictions and the role of DNA evidence in the legal system.

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What "standard" are you referring to?
 
It's heartbreaking. I hope that DNA technology will prevent this from happening so much!
 
lisab said:
It's heartbreaking. I hope that DNA technology will prevent this from happening so much!

prevent some. maybe cause some others?
 
Proton Soup said:
prevent some. maybe cause some others?

Hmm, perhaps...due to improper sample handling, you mean? But many more wrong convictions will be prevented.
 
lisab said:
Hmm, perhaps...due to improper sample handling, you mean? But many more wrong convictions will be prevented.

i leave bits of my DNA all over the place, but I'm not so much in a position to control what goes on in all those places. prosecutors convict people over even less than physical evidence if you believe the lawyer guy that tells people never to talk to the police.
 
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lisab said:
Hmm, perhaps...due to improper sample handling, you mean? But many more wrong convictions will be prevented.
But isn't DNA evidence mostly in the case of rape? Murder may not be so dependent on it, where life imprisonment and death come into play.

lisab said:
It's heartbreaking. I hope that DNA technology will prevent this from happening so much!
What is?

I don't even know what mugs is referring to, his link doesn't go directly to an article. He posted a generic search. Unless you're going directly to a specific article, can you post the link you're looking at?
 
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Evo said:
But isn't DNA evidence mostly in the case of rape? Murder may not be so dependent on it, where life imprisonment and death come into play.

What is?

I don't even know what mugs is referring to, his link doesn't go directly to an article. He posted a generic search. Unless you're going directly to a specific article, can you post the link you're looking at?

On Mugs' link, if you click "Next search" you get a slide show of people who were wrongly convicted. First one is a guy who was just released after 30 years, http://specials.msn.com/A-List/Life...2&cp-searchtext=Cornelius Dupree&FORM=MSNIIT".
 
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lisab said:
On Mugs' link, if you click "Next search" you get a slide show of people who were wrongly convicted. First one is a guy who was just released after 30 years, http://specials.msn.com/A-List/Life...2&cp-searchtext=Cornelius Dupree&FORM=MSNIIT".
Mugs need to fix that, when you link to specifics, you get more searches.

Dupree was convicted of rape, so he was lucky that they still had DNA evidence.

It would have been better to link directly to the project that's working on DNA evidence in old cases.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innocence_Project#Wrongful_convictions
 
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  • #10
This was, by the way, directed at those few prosecutors who are more desirous of winning a conviction to further their career than they are of doing the right thing.
 
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Evo said:
But isn't DNA evidence mostly in the case of rape?

Well, http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm" , but the fact that the rape number is rounded tells me it was grossly underreported. Murders tend to be somewhat less disputable.

Either way we look at it, it's not very pleasant.
 
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